Howard Dean Speaks At AFL-CIO Conference

Connecticut’s AFL-CIO opened its two-day political convention in Hartford on Monday. Former Vermont Governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean was the keynote speaker. WNPR’s Tucker Ives reports.

Dean, whose 2004 bid for the presidency changed the way Democrats raised money online. The former chair of the Democratic National Committee told the more than 400 people in attendance that Democrats face a tough election. But after 19 years with a Republican governor in Hartford, he’d like to see a different party take over in November.

“We’re going to lose some governorships in some places, we want to pick one up here.”

Later, speaking to reporters, Dean said the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right.

“The old Republicans in the model of people like Chris Shays just don’t exist anymore. I just don’t think people in New England are ready for embracing this Republican party, this far, extremist party it’s become.”

And Dean’s criticisms didn’t stop with Republicans. He went on to take shots at Independent Senator Joe Lieberman over his opposition to the health care bill.

“We had 60 votes for a public option and one senator changed his mind. That senator is the senator from the state of Connecticut and we can do better and we’re not going to forget that in 2012. We are not going to forget that.”

Democrats Dan Malloy and Richard Blumenthal and Republican Tom Foley addressed the union later in the day. Linda McMahon did not return the invitation.  

The AFL-CIO announces its political endorsements on Tuesday.

For WNPR, I’m Tucker Ives.